This Privacy Notice explains how personal information is collected, used and stored by Beatrice Banks Counselling & Therapy in accordance with UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Who I am

Beatrice Banks Counselling & Therapy is a practice operated by Beatrice Banks. If you have any questions about how your information is handled, you can get in touch via the contact form on this website.

What information I collect

The information I may collect includes:

• name and contact details
• date of birth
• address
• emergency contact details
• GP details (if provided)
• information shared in the client questionnaire
• brief clinical notes made following sessions
• payment records

Only information that is necessary for providing counselling services is collected.

How your information is used

Your information is used for the purpose of providing counselling services. This may include:

• arranging and conducting counselling sessions
• maintaining appropriate clinical records
• communicating about appointments
• ensuring safe and ethical practice

Personal data is processed lawfully in order to provide counselling and fulfil professional responsibilities.

Confidentiality

Information shared during counselling sessions is treated as confidential. Confidentiality may only be broken where there are serious concerns about your safety or the safety of others, safeguarding concerns, or where disclosure is required by law. To ensure safe and ethical practice, aspects of the work may be discussed in professional supervision. No identifying information is shared.

How information is stored

Personal information is stored securely using password-protected systems and encrypted devices.

Reasonable steps are taken to protect personal data from loss, misuse or unauthorised access.

How long records are kept

Brief clinical notes are retained securely for seven years after the end of counselling, in line with professional insurance requirements. After this time, records are confidentially destroyed.

Third-party services

Some services used to run the practice may process limited personal information. These may include:

• email providers used for communication
• banking services used for payment processing
• secure video platforms used for online counselling sessions (such as VSee, Zoom or Microsoft Teams)

These services operate under their own privacy and data protection policies. Where online sessions are used, reasonable steps are taken to ensure that platforms with appropriate security and privacy measures are used. However, no internet-based communication can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law you have the right to:

• request access to the personal data held about you
• request correction of inaccurate information
• request deletion of your data (subject to legal retention requirements)
• restrict or object to certain processing

Requests can be made via the contact form on this website. If you have concerns about how your information is handled, you also have the right to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office.